University of Cincinnati is not empowered to alter or waive these state regulations, and must enforce their provisions for all students under all personal and/or financial circumstances.

Students who are classified as residents for tuition purposes receive the benefit of a state-supported education, funded largely by the taxpayers of Ohio. Therefore, the residency guidelines are meant to exclude from resident classification those people who are in the state of Ohio primarily for the purpose of receiving the benefit of a state-supported education.

The term "Ohio resident" for tuition purposes may differ from other definitions of Ohio residency. A person who has an Ohio driver's license/vehicle registration or who is an Ohio resident for tax, voting, or welfare purposes may have established legal residence in the state but may not necessarily be considered a resident for tuition purposes.

The following information is provided to assist you in determining if you qualify for Ohio residency for tuition purposes.

Important Facts

Ohio residency for tuition purposes eligibility criteria are established by State of Ohio Law and Ohio Board of Regents regulations, not by University of Cincinnati.

University of Cincinnati cannot alter or waive these eligibility criteria for any reason.

Under Ohio law, if you have moved to Ohio primarily for the purpose of attending an Ohio institution of higher learning, then you are not eligiblefor in-state tuition.

Living in Ohio for a year or longer is not an automatic qualification for in-state tuition.

You must evidence an intent to remain permanently in Ohio. You must prove through official and/or legal documents that you have moved to Ohio permanently and not merely living in Ohio temporarily while you attend University of Cincinnati, however long your course of study may take.

Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating Ohio residency for tuition purposes eligibility.

Legal ties that you have established to another state or country (e.g., state tax liability, a driver’s license, voter’s registration, etc.) will disqualify you from residency reclassification, regardless of your reason(s) for having established these ties.

Evidence that you are receiving out-of-state financial support in any way, either directly (e.g. tuition payments, parent PLUS loans, etc.) or indirectly (e.g., parent-purchased or co-purchased residences, parent-controlled financial portfolios), will disqualify you from Ohio residency for-tuition-purposes.

Despite the length of time you attend UC or live in Ohio, you may not qualify for Ohio residency for-tuition-purposes.

All male U.S. citizens, and male aliens residing in the United States, who were born in 1960 or later are required to register with Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthdays. Ohio law requires the Office of the Registrar to verify that eligible students have registered in order for those students to receive various state educational benefits. The law provides that those who have failed to certify their compliance with Selective Service registration requirements are ineligible for state financial aid programs and will be assessed a penalty equivalent to the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition and fees. More information available here.

E4: An Ohio resident transferred outside of the US by their employer or their spouse/parent’s employer.

E5: A migrant worker in Ohio (or dependent upon).

E6: In a community service position (or spouse/dependent upon)

E7: Returning to Ohio due to marital hardship.

Criteria evidencing Ohio residency:

If a person is subject to tax liability under Section 5747.02 of the Ohio Revised Code;

If a person qualifies to vote in Ohio;

If a person has an Ohio driver's license and/or car registration.

Criteria evidencing lack of Ohio residency:

If a person is a resident of, or intends to be resident of, another state or nation for the purpose of tax liability, voting, receipt of welfare benefits, or student loan benefits (i.e., if the student qualified for that loan program by being a resident of the state or nation); and

If a person is a resident of, or intends to be a resident of, another state or nation for any purposes other than tax liability, voting or receipt of welfare benefits (see above paragraph).

A student once classified as a nonresident, upon the completion of twelve (12) consecutive months of residency in Ohio for all other legal purposes, may apply to the institution he or she attends for reclassification as a resident of Ohio for fee assessment purposes. Should such student present clear and convincing proof that no part of his or her financial support is, or in the preceding twelve (12) consecutive months has been, provided directly or indirectly by persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes, such person shall be classified as an Ohio resident.

Any classification of a person who was once classified as a nonresident for these purposes shall have prospective application only from the date of such reclassification.

International Students: Persons who hold the following visas are eligible for Ohio residency for-tuition-purposes, if all other residency eligibility requirements are met: "A", "E", "G", "H", "I", "L", "TD", and "TN".

Applying for Ohio Residency For-Tuition-Purposes

After having fully reviewed the residency eligibility criteria as established by the State of Ohio, and described on this page, you may submit your application for residency reclassification and supporting documents to the Office of the Registrar.

Each application requires the additional submission of supporting documentation. Documentation may include a driver's license, vehicle registration, proof of voter registration, most recent state income tax form, and a lease or property deed. The Registrar’s Office may require additional documentation prior to making a determination regarding your Ohio Residency for-tuition-purposes eligibility.

The residency application and supporting documentation may be submitted to:

Residency Classification and Fee Assessment

Fees are charged on the basis of residence in the State of Ohio and residence outside the State of Ohio. If the student believes that he or she qualifies for Ohio residency for tuition purposes under the provisions outlined on this page, the student must submit a residency application and all supporting documents to the Office of the Registrar.

A student's residency classification and corresponding fee assessments are subject to audit at any time throughout the academic career of the student.

What are the requirements for establishing Ohio residency for tuition purposes?

A student must demonstrate and possibly document that s/he meets all of the criteria in one of the following sections.

A dependent student, at least one of whose parent or legal guardian has been a resident of the State of Ohio for all other legal purposes for twelve (12) consecutive months or more preceding the enrollment of the student in an institution of higher education. Verification of dependency is done with federal taxes listing the student as such.

An independent person who has been a resident of Ohio for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding his or her enrollment,and who is not receiving, directly or indirectly, support from persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes.

A dependent child of a parent or the spouse of a person who, as of the first day of a term of enrollment, has accepted full-time, self-sustaining employment in Ohio and established domicile in the State of Ohio for reasons other than gaining the benefit of favorable tuition rates.

An independent person who is living in Ohio and is gainfully employed on a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis, and is pursuing a part-time program of instruction but has not yet resided in the state for twelve (12) months may be considered a resident of Ohio for these purposes.

Active Duty Status personnel in the United States military service who enter and currently remain upon active duty status while a resident of Ohio, for all other legal purposes and his/her other dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person's domicile.

Veterans of the United States military service, their spouses and dependents, may qualify for immediate classification as Ohio residents if the veteran has established domicile in Ohio as of the first day of the term of enrollment.

What documentation must I submit to apply for residency?

Residency application instructions vary depending on how you are applying for residency. Instructions for completing different residency applications and the required documentation are noted on the application forms. Documentation may include a driver's license, vehicle registration, proof of voter registration, most recent state income tax form, and a lease or property deed. This is not an exhaustive list. The Registrar’s Office may require additional documentation prior to making a determination regarding your Ohio Residency for-tuition-purposes eligibility.

Can I qualify for immediate residency through someone other than my parent or spouse?

No. A student cannot qualify for "immediate residency" through other relatives, fiancée, in-laws etc. A student may only be reviewed for "immediate residency" through their dependency upon a parent or spouse who is living and working full-time in Ohio.

Does marrying an Ohio resident automatically make me a resident?

Marriage to an Ohio resident does not automatically make you an Ohio resident for tuition purposes. The spouse must qualify as an Ohio resident for all legal purposes. If your spouse is employed full-time in Ohio, you would be eligible to apply for immediate residency.

If my parents move out of Ohio, how is my residency affected?

The state residency guidelines have two "grandfather clauses" to address this.

If your parents are Ohio residents and move out of the state while you are an enrolled resident, dependent student at UC, you will continue to be classified as a resident through the completion of one degree program, provided that you maintain continuous enrollment (does not include summer term) and make normal progress toward your degree. If you apply for a second degree program (i.e. graduate), your residency will be reviewed and you will have to meet the residency criteria on your own.

Similarly, if you are a dependent student applying for admission to UC and your Ohio resident parents move out of the state, you will be considered a resident as long as you enroll within twelve (12) months of the date your parents moved out of Ohio.

If I am moving to Ohio to attend the University of Cincinnati and will be receiving a fellowship or assistantship, does my spouse or dependent qualify for Ohio residency?

No. To be eligible for Immediate Residency, a student must be dependent upon a spouse or parent who is employed full-time in Ohio. That employment cannot be tied to their status as a UC student. Therefore, a fellowship or assistantship is not considered full-time employment.

My parents are divorced, but one of them lives in Ohio. Does that make me a resident?

As long as a dependent student has one parent who has been an Ohio resident for at least the twelve (12) months immediately preceding enrollment, s/he will be considered a resident for tuition purposes whether or not the student actually resides in Ohio; documentation required.

If I am paying taxes to Ohio, doesn't that make me a resident?

Not necessarily. If you are trying to establish residency in Ohio, paying taxes in Ohio is an indicator of your intent to become an Ohio resident. However, you must meet all the residency criteria to be eligible for residency for tuition purposes.

Will I automatically become a resident for tuition purposes once I have lived in Ohio for a year?

No. Any student who has been classified as a non-resident must apply for reclassification as a resident. Even if you are a conditional resident, you must apply if you want to be reviewed for regular residency once you have been in Ohio for 12 months.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible for residency-for-tuition-purposes?

Permanent resident aliens, political refugees, and political asylees are eligible to be reviewed for in-state residency when all other residency requirements are met. Students who hold the following visas may also be reviewed for in-state residency: "A," "E," "G," "H," "I," "L," "N," "O," "P," "R," "S," "T," "TD," "TN," "U," and "V."

International students who hold "B," "C," "D," "F," "J," "M" or "Q" visas are not eligible for establishing in-state residency.

What types of income sources are not eligible for helping me establish in-state residency?

The following are examples of income sources, that if received within the 12-month period preceding the term residency reclassification is desired, would make a student ineligible for Ohio residency:

Support from individuals who are not Ohio residents;

PLUS loan money accepted by the student whose parents are not residents of Ohio;

Loans" from individuals or entities that are not Ohio residents;

Savings and/or financial portfolios that have not been in an account in your name and managed solely by you for a least a year preceding your enrollment at University of Cincinnati;

Financial aid that required you to be a resident of another state in order to receive it;

Credit card debt; and

Out-of-State parent, guardian or any out-of-state entity ownership or co-ownership of the student's Ohio residence.

Note: this is not an exhaustive list.

After reading the residency guidelines, I think I should have been considered a resident months ago. Can I apply for a prior term and get a refund if I can show I was a resident then?

No. The state guidelines prohibit retroactive residency decisions. You must apply by the deadline for the term in question in order to be reviewed for residency for that term

Any state’s 529 plan is only applicable to a student’s financial independence only if it can be documented that all funds associated with the plan were transferred legally into the students sole possession and sole control more than 24 months prior to the student using the funds. In addition, there should be no evidence of large deposits into the account within the past 24 months. In other words, the student should have sole control of the fund and should not be receiving any financial assistance from an out-of-state family member within the past 2 years. Students will need to provide documentation indicating date of establishment and transaction activities showing funds used toward paying for their tuition.

I received a substantial financial gift of assistance from a family member who lives in another state. Does this affect my residency?

Yes. Loans and/or gifts in excess of nominal amounts from parents or other individuals, regardless of the terms, are considered financial assistance and as such will be a disqualifying factor.